US drone attack kills 22 suspected militants in North Waziristan

March 17th, 2011 - 4:51 pm ICT by ANI  

Taliban Miranshah, Mar 17(ANI): A US drone strike in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt killed 22 suspected militants on Thursday, security officials said.

Two missiles hit Datta Khel town, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal district.

“A US drone fired two missiles and destroyed a house. 22 suspected militants were killed in the attack,” Geo TV quoted a senior security official in Peshawar, as saying.

The deeply unpopular covert US drone campaign, which operates with the tacit consent of Pakistani officials, has been ramped up recently as the missiles target insurgents believed to be hiding in the lawless border regions.

Most have been concentrated in North Waziristan- the alleged Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda bastion- where the United States wants the Pakistan military to launch a ground offensive.

Pakistan has, however, not given in to the US demand so far, saying that its troops are already overstretched. (ANI)

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